Aq , ~I - J

VOLUME XXI NUMBER 11FIRST QUARTER 1981

MODERN STEEL
CONSTRUCTION
Space Frame for the Stars
An Architect's Choice for Retail Stores
Million-Dollar Change Order-with Steel
Fast Track-and a Million in the Bank
Things are Looking Up at Sharpstown
MODERN
CONSTRUCTION
Published by

American Institute
VOLUME XXI NUMBER 11FIRST QUARTER 1981 •
of Steel Construction CONTENTS
The Wrigley Building Poplar Creek: Space Frame for the Stars 3
400 North Michigan Avenue Steel: An Architect 's Choice for Retail Facilities 6
Chicago, illinois 60611
Simmonds Precision: A Million·Dollar Change 10
O~~ICERS
Bedford Park Station: A Home Away from Home 12
A Fast Track-and a Million in the Bank 13
WIlliam J. Tilley, Jr., Chairman
Sharpstown Center: Things are Looking Up! 16
Philip O. Elbert, First Vice Chairman
John H. Busch , Second Vice Chairman
Bridge to Renewal-Color it Red! 20
Werner H. QU8sebarth , Treasurer 1981 ARCHITECTURAL AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
Richard G. Altmann , Pre.ldent COMPETITION ANNOUNCED
William W. Lanigan , he American Institute of Steel Construction is once again spon·
Secretary & General Counsel
William A. Mllek,
T soring its " Architectural Awards of Excellence Program." The
20th award program will seek to recognize and honor outstanding
Vice President, Engineering architectural designs in structural steel and to encourage further
Lewis Brunner, exploration of the many aesthetic possibilities inherent In steel
Vice President, Marketing construction.
Steel·framed buildings constructed anywhere in the United States
and designed by registered architects practicing professionally in
the U.S. (defined as the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and all ,
EDITORIAL STA~~ U.S. territories) are eligible. Each building must have been com·
Daniel Farb, Director of Publi cations pleted during calendar years 1979 or 1980.
George E. Harper, Editor
The structural frame of the building must be domestic sleel, bul il
is not required that the steel be exposed, or a part of the architec·
Georgia Harris, Editorial Assistant
tural expression. Buildings of all classifications may be entered,
and equal emphasis is given to all sizes and types in the judging.
Applicants are encouraged to submit their entries well before the
REGIONAL OFFICES May 8, 1981 closing date. There is no limit to the number of entries
NORTHEAST REGION by any individual or firm. Buildings named as previous AAE winners
New York, NY (Hdq.) 2t2l695-429t will not be eligible.
Boston, MA 6171329-74t7 Award winners will be featured in a special sect/on of the October
Philadelphia, PA 609/858-9354 issue of Architectural Record magazine. A formal awards banquet
Pittsburgh, PA 4121391-4474 in Chicago on October 27 will honor competition winners.
NORTH CENTRAL REGION
Chlcago,IL(Hdq.) 3121372.a957 Members 01 the 1981 Jury 01 Awards are:
Detroit, MI 3131356-2620
Minneapolis, MN 6121866-3791 Jacques C. Brownson , State Buildings Division ,
SOUTHEAST REGION State of Colorado, Denver, Colorado
Atlanta, GA (Hdq.) 4041456-7679 Bruce J. Graham, FAIA,
Charlotte, NC 7041375.a547 Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, Chicago, Illinois
Tampa, FL 8131879-0429
SOUTHWEST REGION Philip J. Meathe, FAIA,
Dallas, TX (Hdq.) 2141630-5236 Smith, Hinchman & Grylls ASSOCiates, Inc., DetrOit, Michigan
Houston, TX 7131529-5564
St Loul., MO 314172",332 Walter P. Moore, Jr., PhD., P.E.,
Walter P. Moore and ASSOCiates, Inc., Houston, Texas
WESTERN REGION
Lo. Angeles , CA(Hdq.) 2131444-4519 R. Randall Vosbeck, FAIA,
Denver, CO 303/831-4622 VVKR Incorporated, Alexandria, Virginia
San Francisco, CA 4151495-3550
Seattle, WA 206/624-5460 Competition rules are available from AISC, 400 North Michigan ••
GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611 . Entries must be postmarked prior
Washington , DC 2021887-5768 to May 8, 1981. 0

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AMERICAN INSTITUTE
OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION
P.O. Box 4588
Chicago, Illinois 60680
 Poplar Creek MusIc Theatre, Hoffman Estates , IL IS largest of Irs kmd Stool-lUbe space frame bears on 42·m concrete columns Irs 60,000 sq
h (below) Shelters 7,000 people Indoors Vie w towards lawn seating area
Poplar Creek:
Space Frame for the Stars
M usic under the stars appears to
be a coming attraction in this
country. In keeping with this trend, the
Nederlander Theatrical Corporation
recently commissioned an outdoor
theatre to serve the Chicagoland area.
The firm now owns or operates 29 fa·
cllitles across the country.
The newest-and largest-Is the
Poplar Creek Music Theatre In subur-
ban Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The ver-
sat ile facility, designed for popular
and classical music and dance, seats
• 7,000 under roof, plus another 13,000
on terraced lawns. It provides the Chi·
cago summer market with 9()'100 per-
formances, and related service and
food concession structures.
Poplar Creek was commissioned to
be a prototype for future theatres to be
built in other parts of the country. That
requirement led to a two-part SOlution:
First , the par1<ing and access had to
be designed so that it could be mod·
ified to fit any site; and, second, the
compound, which includes all the
other theatre elements and relation·
ships, must fit near the center of park·
ing on any site, without substantial
modifications.
After a three·year search in the
Chicago land area, the 130·acre site in
Hoffman Estates was chosen for its
accessibility, its location within a 15·
minute drive of the Chicago market
and near a forest preserve to minimize
sound control problems.
Sound Conlrol Mosl Demanding
One of the most demanding require·
ments was sound control. However.
Lookmg toward stage and lawn seating area (bottom) . RadIating uplifts on columns hold house
lightS Space frame and (oof deck underside afe pamted o"ght red. add festive air Oy
reflectmg flOOdllgnts Nore sound Oamer waifs In background
its needs were In direct opposition to
that of being In a densely populated
market area. Both state and county
noise ordinances were very restrictive
regarding residential development
within the cone of sound produced by
a music theatre- estimated up to 110
decibels. Actually, only one residence
falls within the cone of sound from the
theatre. A 2().ft high sound barrier wall
erected on the top of the lawn seating
berm drops the sound level at that
house below allowable maximums.
The barrier also shields the theatre-
goers from sound from the nearby
tollway.
The shape of the theatre/compound,
a circle, developed logically from the
relationsh ips of various elements. The
major element, seating, is a 160· fan
shape. The thrust stage at the center
occupies nearly half of the circle, with
a radius of 415 ft and a five·acre area.
Owners wanting to deliver specta·
tors directly to their seats, without the
need to go through or past another
seating section, led to a major depar·
ture from most theatre plans. Specta·
tors arrive at the theatre through a
main entry gate Into a central plaza-
behind the stage. From this plaza, via
ramps and bridges, they arrive directly
at the edge of the continental aisle-
ways under the roof, or to the edge of
the lawn seating. This spectator traffic
pattern was designed psychologically
to create a series of emotional experl·
,
ences. The sense of arrival at the the·
atre is controlled and enhanced be·
cause the ramps penetrate walls at the
edge of the theatre, which restrict its
approach view.
FI.t IS • Cornfield
To this point, the description of the
theatre has been two·dlmenslonal , as
flat as the cornfield from which it rose.
Actually, 370,000 cu . yds. of earth were
excavated from the sunken central
plaza and depressed seating under the
roof and from the parlling area to build
the 46-ft high sloped lawn area with its
excellent slghtllnes to the stage.
Security Is provided to half the en·
closed circle circumference by the 20·
ft sound barrier fence. Security for the
other half Is provided by a "ha·ha"
fence, so called because it cannot be
seen in the depression between two
l().ft and 2().ft earth berms which en·
close the central plaza. As a result , the
only penetration of the circle occurs at
the entrance gate and the depressed
service drive which passes under the
ramped bridges.
Unobslrucllve Space Frame
As for any theatre, unobstructed sight·
lines were an absolute must. Poplar
Creek's 6O,()()().sq ft space frame roof.
met that requirement. It includes a
160·ft and a 22O·ft clear span , 8·ft
 deep, with cantilevers up to 50 ft. The
st eel space fra me is an irregular rec-
tangle with serrated edges that step
back from a maximum width of 230 It
to 90 It at either end. Maximum length
Is 340 ft.
The space frame was totally assem·
bled on the ground and erected by
cranes. Steel·tube chords came to the
site In SQ.ft lengths, where they were
field·bolted with diagonals to form 50. Reverse·flow traffIC. as spectators enter Poplar Creek oack of stage . then cross Orldge to
ft x SQ.ft and 5o.ft x SQ.ft sections, ".,door O( lawn seatmg Festive ConceSSIOn 8rea Brmospnere IS enhanced oy free -slandsng
which were then lifted in place. space 'rame thalldentd,es entry QBte to theatre (bottom)
The space frame bears on 12 con·
crete columns via 8·ft high pyramid
space frame members. Only six of
these columns circle the back of the
theatre, to provide maxim um visibili ty
o f the stage .
The underside of the three·lnch
wood roof deck, and the space frame,
are painted a bright red-orange. House
lights reflecting oft this painted sur-
face add to the festive quality of the
theatre. All catwalks, sound systems
and spotlight platforms are within the
8·ft high by lo.ft square grids of the
space frame.

A Feeling of Intimacy
Alt hough any theatre seating 20,000 Is

•
huge, comments of visitors on stage
express an unusual feeling of intimacy,
created In part by the enclosure. Even
though lawn areas are not covered,
the performers' slghtlines do not In·
elude open sky. The edge of the roof
appears to be below the top of the
sound·barrier wall at the top of the
lawn berm .
The "space frame for the stars"
opens its second season in June, fea·
turing such notables as John Denver,
Bob Hope, Henry Mancini and the New
York Philharmonic . 0

Architect
Rossen/Neumann Associates, AlA
SOuthfield, Michigan
Structural Engineer
Paul Gugliotta Consulting Engineers
New York, New York
Fabricator
VOlunteer Structures, Inc.
Nashville, Tennessee
Erector
loUiS HOffman
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

•
Owner
NED-PROP, a joint venture of Nederlander
A.alty and AKO General
Boston Store today In
In Support of Steel: An
MIlwaukee's Southfldge Mall
Architect's Choice for Retail Facilities
by James H. Donnelly
ost and time were the main rea-
C sons our last 12 department store
proJects have been designed with a
structural steel system.
Over the last 20 years, we have com-
pleted over 50 major retail projects in
various parts of the U.S. Mercantile
facilities we design are generally low·
rise, two- or three-story buildings with
a floor area of between 100,000 to
200,000 sq ft. Structural bay dlmen-
James H Donnelly is a senior partner of Baxter
HodeU Donnelly Preston. a forty-five per-
son A /E 'Irm In ClnClnnall. OhiO. With the
IIrm for over thirty years, he has extenSive
experience in retail/shopping center plan-
ning and deSign throughout the U.5.
6
slons range from 24 ft x 24 ft to 32 ft x
32 ft. Flre·reslstive construction usu-
ally Is a code requirement.
Cost Comparisons-Steel vs Concrete
The structural frame is a major cost
Item in multi-level department stores.
Considerable research time is spent
by our firm each year in analyzing the
cost of various structural systems and
their components. For some projects,
several systems have been designed
and bid, with final selection being
made only after bids have been reo
ceived and costs known.
In making cost comparisons, our es-
timators consider the cost of the
superstructure, foundation costs, the
cost of financing during the construc-
•
tlon period and any wall cost differen-
tials resulting from the depth of the
structure.
Like many architects In the busi-
ness of designing department stores
in the late 1950's and early '60's, we
provided clients with functional facil-
ities, usually with a superstructure of
reinforced concrete.
But even In those days, our edict
from owners was a quality building at
reasonable cost, finished on time and
within budget. The conventionally
formed concrete superstructure had
•
been selected, on the basis of numer-
ous engineering and cost studies
which tended to prove the concrete
system was the most economical at
the time.
 By the early 1970's, labor rates were
rising rapidly and costs of systems
which were field·labor intensive in·
creased more rapidly than those pre·
domlnately shop prefabricated. In
• 1973, our cost analyses showed the
fireproofed structural steel frame had
a cost edge over the poured·in·place
concrete structure.
As the years progressed, the cost
differences widened, until today we
rarely consider reinforced concrete as
an economical structural alternative
for this building type. Under special
circumstances, we have found precast
concrete to be competitive with steel.
In Wisconsin, we completed five
buildings, and are In the process of
designing a sixth for the Milwaukee
Boston Store- a division of Federated
Department Stores . Three of those
Boston Stores, built prior to 1973, are
poured·in·place concrete. They aver·
aged 460 calendar days from start of
construction to opening. The last
three are structural steel , which aver·
aged less than 320 days .
Other Advantage. of Steel
For a project now being completed
in Racine, Wisconsin, bids were taken
•
on both steel and precast concrete
1
~(lgtnaJBoston Store 's concrete-framed bUlldmg was enlarged With steel·framed addlllOfl
at conSIderable savings In bOth cost and time
systems. Steel was selected, based on
cost and delivery. The design included
a floor system of 4·Y. In. concrete fill
on composite metal deck, composite
girder design. Roof framing is bar
joists and metal roof deck. Floor sys·
tems and columns are protected with
spray-on fireproofing. A double ceil·
lng, used In the roof assembly, pro·
vldes the necessary fire rating .
Speed of construction is particularly
Important In this northern state. The
construction start Is usually sched·
uled so as to complete the building en·
closure during the relatively short con·
struction period, from mid·April to
mid·November. The steel structure
system permits this kind of schedule,
with time to spare.
It has been our experience that com·
parable poured·in·place structures
required a minimum of four months
longer to complete. Construction of
poured·ln·place concrete during those
harsh Wisconsin winters Is difficult
and expensive. Our cost records show
that temporary enclosures and heat·
Ing for an average store building will
be about $40,000 per month during the
winter.
To hold the construction period to a
minimum on these buildings, struc·
tural steel Is pre·bld . Award of the
structural steel contract six weeks
prior to the award of the general con·
tract usually gets the steel at the job
site, ready for erection, abOut the time
foundations are completed . The con·
structlon sequence Is established very
early In the build ing process. The
building Is often scheduled by quad·
rants, and steel Is fabricated and
erected according to the sequence
that will be used for all other construc·
tion work, Including store fixtures.
Fabrication of ductwork anb pipe
and their installation follow in the
same sequences, and begin before
erection of the total structure. As steel
and deck are placed, mechanical and
electrical trades can mOVe right In to
hang ductwork, pipe and conduit. The
ability to start ductWOrk, sprinkler sys·
tems and electrical conduit Immedl·
ately following the deck erection, with·
out waiting for removal of shoring , Is a
distinct time advantage. Six months
after start, the building envelope can
be completed and Is ready for finish·
Ing trades.
Another factor considered In eval·
uatlng systems Is the dimensional
 -----------------------------------------------------------
depth of the structure and its effect on tural steel, It was necessary to use floors at columns with minimal addi-
floor-to-floor dimensions, cost of main beams up to four feet in width. tional cost.
stairs, vertical transportation, and This often limited the routing of pipe Always to be considered in the cost!
mechanical and electrical risers. To and conduit through floors at column time analyses is construction financ-
achieve a poured-in-place concrete locations. With the steel structure, Ing. In the last several years, Interim
structure of the same depth as struc- services can usually be routed through financing costs have had a significant •

Steel Roof System

Steel COlumn~I~"_--Bay Size --~..
-I

Steel beam I ,
--- ---H

" t..
CD
Metal rool deck
'"
Open web steel joists ---t--;.
-t--
'"co
N

~
Insula lion

Hanger wire 8-----

1-V," deep x 22 gao wide rib metal roof
deck, factory painted, on open-web
steel joists spaced between 5' -7" to
4'-10", depending on bay size; wide-
flange beams; system Is protected by
Fire-rated acousllcal ceiling
Beam splice ~
f
fire-rated 2' x4' acoustical ceiling ductwork, and hold-down clips . The •
board In exposed tee suspension sys- regular ceiling costs are not included ;
tem . Un it costs include premium for wide-flange steel columns with spray-
light fixture protection, flredampers In on fireproofing.

Steel Floor System

Metal deck-
fireproofing not required I- Bay Siza _I
Welded wire fabric
-----~

t
.
CD

Filler Beams-!-- '"

connectors ."'"
Concrete ala Steel Glrder-

R-.:..------R
Steel girder or
shown without necessary fireproofing
Steel Column J
3- '!. " lightweight concrete slab, 115 permanent composite metal deck, no spray-on fireproofing, stud shear con.
pcf, 3,000 psi, double steel trowel shoring required , 6x6-10/10 WWF, nectors at girder locations. No fire·
finish on 20 gao x 3" ribbed galvanized steel beams , girders and columns with proofing of steel deck required.

8
 impact on cost comparisons and on
the selection of the structural system.
At 15% prime interest rates, construc·
tion financing of a typical department
store project will be In the neighbor·
tural steel , along with fast·track
scheduling , has reduced financing
costs more than 25%.
As retailers continue to battle infla·
tion and pressure on their margins
stepped·up demand for more cost·
effective bu ild ings. At Baxter Hodell
Donnelly Preston , selection of steel
for the superstructure has resulted In
significant savings to our clients in

• hood of $400,000. The switch to struc·

Concrete Floor & Roof System

from fierce competition, we expect a both cost and time. 0

!__ Ba y s l . e - - ---- 1

Dis tribution rib - - - - - . . . . .

Concrete Jois t
~
------,--=-,---0
~""'t~
1o l -1
~~~~~~:~~~
"i: :J
::::J L
I II II ~
L
II [ :'
'".
•
_i
oncrete beam
°

•
' -_ _ Concrete column

All concrete heavyweight 4,000 psi ; removable pans; 12" or 14" deep x 6" beams supported on spiral reinforced
cast·ln·place reinforced concrete slab wide reinforced concrete joists with concrete columns. For reinforced
(floor, 4-1/,"; roof, 2·% ") with double one or two distribution ribs, depending square concrete columns add an aver·
steel trowel finish, formed on 30" wide on bay size; reinforced concrete age of $0.06/ sq fI to unit costs.

Comparison of Framing Systems

Floor Framing Systems Roof Framing Systems
- --I
Overall Cost per sq. fl . 0 verall Cost per sq. ft .
Type Bay Size Depth June 1975 Jan. 1981 Depth June 1975 Jan . 1981

Steel 32' x 32' 2' ·3'1." $4.48 $6.51 1 ' ·11 " $1.78 $2.59
30' x30' 2' ·3'1." $4.30 $6.25 1 ' -8" $1 .77 $2.57
28' x 28 ' 2 ' ·3'/." $4.37 $6.35 1' $1.78 $2.59
24' x24' 1' ·10'1. " $4.16 $6.05 1 ' -4" $1 .75 $2.54

I- --
Concrete 32 ' x 32 ' 2' ·0 " $5.15 $8.27 2 ' ·0" $4.90 $7.87
30' x 30' 2' -0 " $5.07 $8.15 2 ' ·0 " $4.82 $7.74
28 ' x28' l' ·8 " $4.92 $7.90 1 ' ·8" $4.67 $7.50

• '-
24 ' x24 ' 1'·4%" $4.64 $7.45 1 ' ·4 % " $4.39 $7.05

9
 .~
,
'.

.. •

Simmonds Precision Products ' new headquarters In Vergennes . VT. M"IIon<!ollar change order added second story to bUlldmg already
under constrUCtIon Ora wing (next pg.) details steel constrUCtion that speeded progress

Simmonds Precision: •
A Million-Dollar Change
by Erik A. Davis, R.A.

S immonds Precision Products, in

1979, decided to build an addition
to i ts Vergennes, Vermont plant for an
In strument Systems Division. Previ·
ously, home for its administrative,
engineering and manufacturing facil·
ities was in an extensive amalgama-
ti on of pre-engineered buildings and
rented trailers. Designers decided the
new structure should combine the
existing plant 's metal skin with stone
materials indigenous to Vermont 's
Champlain Valley . Their best choice
was to use locally manufactured pre-
cast spandrel , pilaster and infill pan-
els wi th exposed native aggregate
over a structural steel frame.
£flk A DavIs IS a prOJeCI architect
Wiemann-Lamphere ArChitects, Inc
Design Considerations
The fast-growing company felt its
buildings had to have a flexible plan to
allow for future organ izational
changes. In itial construction of one
floor was planned , but with expansion
potential for a second floor. Hence the
roof system not only had to accom-
modate Vermont's 50 psf snowload
requirements, but also the need to re-
move and revise the roofing and insu -
lation system , with minimal waste , to
provide for a second level. Designs
also included plans for a future
elevator.
A major design consideration was
energy conservation , with the abil ity
to recapture and distribute waste
process heat with in a thermally effi-
With cient building envelope.
Too, speed of construction, and the
need to accurately schedule work
around operation of the existing plant,
was crucial to the owners.
Structural System
Early In the design stages, the archi-
tects recognized that a structural steel
system provided the necessary flex -
ibility within the tight scheduling
demands. Structural bays, 24 ' x25' ,
provided open-plan requirements, with
a central core for mechanicallsupporr
facilities. Diagonal bracing was
placed behind precast panels; 20 · bar
joists and 1'I• • concrete on 22 gao
wide-rib metal deck provided the roof
system; and steel beams were In-
serted for future stair openings to a •
second level.
The bar joist system permitted the
greatest flexibility for the mechanical

10
 waste·heat reclamation and dlstribu·
tlon systems. The structural steel
frame allowed a complete thermal
envelope to be developed, broken only
at points where the precast system
was attached. The flexibility Inherent
• In steel construction facilitated the
compatibility of detail between the
preformed metal siding and the pre·
cast materials.
Inodt,." ,IUI."num 1I.,lIlrt"
.... Bb,' Clnl
10 * ,Ionl bill."
1I."ld wOOd blocklnlil
ml",t)llnl 1001
.. , ":1" ""'d In,ulaUo"
r,II,danl
~'POl'
I ments during progress also demon·
L3.3.t,. coni
,112.11/h'14"..gbrlc • • tl'oc '.,P
Wll,,22 IOln.clrt' b.,,,,_
'SHe totl'l _ _
112 II)'OluII'I .sMlOI,d
Inlu"UO"
112"" g,ol""" 1".,,1011"0
t 4. A continuous band of glazing re-
1/2' dl' •• ; rod.,
W•• 13 "ub tro," COlumn.
•
CtO.153,t"lglrl
,,, 2 aluminum Ing'l ~
ltd blocltltlg
112" g"OI ...m .lllbol,d
clulklng
, " - - .,ndow """II
_lllcI"-
W4.,3 ttub IrOll'l
112" lilY PI"'''' •• Ilboar., ~
2.e 11'1"1' Iluda
S" In,ulilioll
112" gyp,,,,m ."•• th ...."
pr,lIn.,hl" 3" In.ula'I" 1'11'11
2 1/2' contrete deck e.'enllon
2 112" concle'e deck
W12.22 .".ndle' be.""
W12.22 .Iub ~.""., column.
,..wPl he 112. '"2'"
""elal '01'" 10 ",alch lI.nel.
prel_.hoed 3" WI.uAa'ed _1.1 p ...., - -
al"'IiJIII".~
wood blocking
112'" O.,II'VfOt . . . .0.r4 IIIIer
•
"I'll "'I.,t clo."", I~d .,'h bitt ,"lul,llOn ~
_II' elOlul, Ingle I /
COlnP neoPI~::t~Io:~~:II:~I:~do': r
A Mlillon·Doliar Change Order
Early in construction, the flexibility of
steel framing surfaced when Sim·
monds decided to expand to the sec·
ond floor as part of the contract al·
ready In progress.
At this point, columns and beams
were at the job site, and the remainder
of the steel was in production. Coor·
dlnation and timing were critical, so a
113 pll
Colll~
o.~,
I •
fast·track process was established .
The corporate architect quickly devel·
oped schematics for the exterior shell.
Those came to local architects devel·
oping engineering and construction
documents. Concurrently, Interior
planning between design architect
and owner was rushed to completion.
Complications arose In the fact that
the structural firm responsible for the
first floor construction could not meet
the additional fast·track schedule, due
to other commitments. Another firm
was retained for work on this second
phase. The ease of detailing Inherent
in steei construction facilitated the
transition . Several other design ele·
strated the flexibility In a structural
steel system .
1. A 2O-in . cantilever was added to
three sides of the building.
2. One stairway was added, another
reoriented 90· .
3. Elevator size was modified.
placed the precast panel motif
used on the first floor. This meant
bracing had to be moved to the
Interior, and Its exact location
could not be determined until
final plans were developed .
All of these design modifications
were accommodated easily by the
flexibility of detail inherent In steel.
And , the readily available steel com·
ponents permitted construction to
continue without Interruption.
The new work was Incorporated Into
the original contract with one simple
change order-for over one million
dollars! 0
Architect s
Corporat.: Edward Ballantyne
White Pialns, New York
Wlemann·Lamphere Architects, Inc.
Burlington, Vermont
Structural Engineers
PIla•• 1·Richard Oall & ASSOCiates
Burlington, Vermont
Phase II·Ourbrow Associates
Burlington, Vermont
General Contractor
Breadloaf Construction
Middlebury, Vermont
Steel Fabricator
Vermont Structural Steel
Burlington, Vermont
11

Bedford Park Station:
N
A Home Away From Home
eeded: a residential atmosphere
for firemen-and a shelter for fire
engines-all In one.
The answer: Bedford Park, Illinois
Fire Station, a through·access four·
bay structure that provides living, din-
ing and sleeping areas. And engine
shelter, additional equipment support
spaces, work bench zone, gear lock-
ers, a hose·washlng/drying area and
storage.
12
Living areas include small personal
spaces, and a landscaped courtyard ,
walled·in for privacy.
A large clear·span structure houses
the fire engines and permits unob·
structed access to all fire-fighting
equipment. Exposed structural steel
trusses, 15 It o.c.-highlighted by
bright yellow paint-span 80 It over
apparatus In a longitudinal direction,
and cantilever 5 It beyond their sup-
•
porting columns. A total of 10 wide·
flange columns, five at the front and
•
five at the back, support the entire roof
structure.
The trusses are sealed at columns
and perimeter with butt·Jointed glass
to minimize the need for artificial light-
Ing. Finely detailed roiling glass doors
permit the visual excitement of dis·
playing bOth the space and the fire
engines.
Another dramatic visual impact Is
created by a counterplay of environ-
ments: the fire-fighting area with Its
bright steel structure, the clear glass
and the warm-toned, brlck·enclosed
residential home·away·from·home. 0
Architect/Structura l Engineer
Holabird & Root
Chicago, illinois
General Contractor
Mutual Development Company
•
Palos Heights, llIInois
Owner
Viliago of Bodford Park
Bodford Park, Illinois
•
•
$
• --

•
Just being complered addition to PhlladelptllB Skylme IS 615 Chestnut Street Swldlng WI llean of hiS10flC mall

A Fast Track-
and a Million in the Bank
by Robert K. Huzzard

saved $1 million with steel framing. for the S19·mlllion structure, accord-
I n the shadow of Independence Hall,
a just·being·completed office struc·
ture met the needs of design-and
The 17-story structure-the 615
Chestnut Street Building-does much
Ing to John D. deMolI, PE, AlA, pres·
Ident of Ballinger, the archltecturall

•
RObert K HuzzBrd IS a sales englOeer wl!h Ihe
Philadelphia Sales dlsHlel 01 Bethlehem
Steel Corporation
more than provide 12 floors of prime
office space and house 400 cars In
Philadelphia's Independence Mal l.
The building's steel framing provid-
ed the design and end·use flexibility
engineering firm who designed the
building. " We really chose a steel fram-
Ing system because It was the most
efficient way to meet our design spec·
Ificatlons and the developer's require·

13
 ,I
,

Hlstofle area IS sIte of "615" BUlldmg. new structure overlookmg Independence Mall NatIonal Park. Sreel frame of structure
IS chamfered (above) to maximIze amount of rentable offIce space overlooking city. Note floors SIX to eight
feature stepbacks for balconies .

ments for fast-track construction." dlcated a savings of between $1 .50 corners that give '615' its distinctive

Ballinger knew from the beginn ing
that steel framing would be cost-effi-
cient for the structure. But further
analysis of the economics of steel ,
compared to reinforced concrete, in-
14
and $2 per sq ft .
Distinctive Shape
Another plus, "Steel framing gave us
flexibility to create the chamfered
•
six-sided shape and stepped, land-
scaped terraces," deMoll says. " The
use of steel resulted in easier fabrica-
tion and quicker construction on a
congested downtown site, which '615'
 virtually fills. The land was the last and typical 1I00r beams are W12x14. and other nearby office buildings.

•
open parcel in the Independence Malo
Urban Renewal Area."
Construction, which began in May,
1979, is soon to be completed. The
fast·track construction schedule re-
quired all·season construction, so
steel was used " because it was not af·
fected by the weather."
More Renlable Space
Foundation costs of the " 515" were reo
duced because the steel frame weighs
less than a comparable concrete
structure, deMoll further notes. " The
use of steel allowed longer spans-45
It-than practicable with other mate-
rials. These spans were accomplished
wllh beam depths permitting efficient
1I00r-Io-floor heights (fioor-Io-lioor,
12 '-8'; lloor·to-celling, 8 '-5' ). "
Ballinger' s design director, Bill
Gustafson, adds, " These longer spans,
resulling In typical bays of 45 ' x 20 '
allow tenants to plan their space with
greater flexibility. Floor plans are de-
signed around 5' x 5 ' modules so ten·
ants can more efficiently arrange
The composite steel frame, 11 .2 psf, Those warm tones continue through
has moment connections to resist the lobby, for which an original George
longitudinal wind loads, while braced Segal sculpture was commissioned. 0
frames resist transverse wind loads.
Connections are welded or fleld·bolted
with ASTM A325 high' strength bolls. Architect/Structural Engineer
The floor Is a 3 V. ·ln . lightweight slab Ballinger
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
on a 2·ln . deep galvanized steel deck.
General Contraclor
Historical Setting LF. Driscoll Co.
The site, purchased from the Philadel- Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania
phia Redevelopment Authority was Fabricator
developed In keeping with the city's Leh igh Structura l Steel Company
architectural tradition, according to Allentown , Pennsylvan ia
Designer Gustafson. The three·story
limestone facade on Chestnut Street Erector
Falcon Steel Company
complements a similar one on the Wilmington , Delaware
Public Ledger Building across the
transltway and provides a street scale Owner
for " SI5's" stores. Russet brick facing Seventh & Chestnut Street Associ ates
harmonizes with Independence Hall Ph iladelphia, Penn sylvan ia
Office WIth a view- and what 8 Vlew-of cradle of liberty Building 's strategIc locatIOn
places It In center of city actiVities Three floors boast landscaped balcomes Longer $pans
of steel frammg permIt greater lloor plan fleXIbility (see plan , below)
~---~-

•
large computer areas, conference
rooms and additional work spaces."
What this means Is that the 351,455
sq It (net rentable) of office space is
virtually column·free, providing open
areas that permit tenants to have more
corner offices. The building ground
1I00r Includes 20,000 sq ft of retail
stores In a prime commercial Quaker
City area, and a finely appointed lobby.

Changing Configuration-In Steel

he next four levels, rectangular in
shape, provide 168,000 sq It of leased
parking space. But at the sixth story,
the first office level, "515" changes its
shape. Chamfers are formed at the
southeast corner-which faces Inde-
pendence Mall, Society Hill and the
Delaware River-and at the northeast
..
corner which angles for views of The • •
Gallery, the country's first new center
city shopping mall.
The beveled corners gradually step • • • • I • •
back to form a series of terraces on
the sixth to eighth floors. Here full
I
chamfers form and continue to the top
1I00r.
The "615's" frame Is primarily ASTM
I I • • •
•
A572 (Gr. SO) hlgh·strength, low·alloy

-
steel. Wind frame and braced frame
• members were fabricated from A36
s' eel. Typical girders are W24x7S, col·
umns vary from W14x211 to W14x48, ----- 15
 •
SpaciOUS 5O-h h/f}h atflum hOuses two escalators for new second story addll/O() to ShatpSlown Genter 'S boOming
shoppmg mall . Landscapmg of 12·ft fICus trees and hangmg t>askets of ferns lend refreshing ambience to moderntzed facility

Sharpstown Center:
Things are Looking Up!
hat happens when a 2Q·year old
W shopping center runs out of
badly needed space for new stores?
And there Is no adjacent land area on
which to build the new space? At
Sharpstown Center, 1(\ booming sub-
urban Houston, the only way to build
was up-with a steel·framed second
story on the existing concrete-framed
structure.
The first air-conditioned shopping
center In the Gulf Coast area, Sharps·
town was a very profitable center, with
100% occupancy over the last 18
years. The demographics of its loca·
tion, and a demand for more retail
space, pointed to a need for expan·
sion-a need that rocketing land
prices would have made prohibitive,
even If land were available.
So, Instead of moving outward, as
most older centers do, Sharpstown
moved up.
Double-decker Precedent
Houston·based shopping center de-
veloper Arthur M. Fischer, owner
Sharpstown , believes the trend of the
Of.
'80's will be to build upward . He ap·
plied his "double-decker" thinking to

16
•
Sharps town, not only the largest but
also the shopping center with the
highest gross sales per square foot of
any In the dynamic Houston market.
Fischer embarked on a 519,000 sq ft
expansion, marking the first time a
major shopping center of this size
(one million sq It) had a second level
added to It. The task of building a sec·
ond level was precedent·settlng. There
were no textbooks to follow. One of
the major needs was to keep the cen·
ter operational during construction.
Pardon Our Dusll
To keep the center operative, the proj·
ect had to proceed from the outside In.
First, they had to build a second·story
roof before they destroyed the old one.
Once the new roof was on, the old one
was stripped away to be converted
Into the floor of the second story.
Customer and merchant relations
•
were vital to the project. To minimize
disruption of retail activities by the
construction efforts, the general con·
tractor worked a night crew from clos·
Ing until store opening time. Crews
Architecture of new upper level adds welcome modern motif to Sharpslown Genter
entered at 9 p.m. with drills, cranes,
forklifts and air compressors-and
quit at 6:30 a.m., in time to clean up
the debris and move out their equip·
ment In time for a 10 a.m. store
opening.
"At night the center's Interior
looked like the Houston freeway at
rush hour," according to the project
manager, Peter Jacobson.
The general manager of Sharpstown
Center, Ed Wolochln, pOints out,
" Maintaining the trust of our mer·
chants was the key to continued coop-
eration and high enthusiasm. From
the start of construction, I received
calls from merchants commenting on
how pleased they were with the clean·
liness and the progress." Sales reo
ports showed Increased business for
most merchants.
After the Christmas rush, construc·
tlon accelerated. Demolition crews
Busmess as usual (r.) as huge second level
nears completion , while shopping continues
unmterrupted on f,rst ·floor retail area
worked round the clock. Maintaining the mall was taking. Customers and Creative Technical Challenges Met •
that merchant cooperation became merchants alike were tantalized by the " When this structure was built on
more difficult. Fischer Indicates, " By appealing direction and design of the Texas prairies In 1961, no one even
February, we were saved by the shape renovated mall ." considered a need for additional
space. The technical challenge was to
develop an economically feasible de-
Steel goes up on Sharpstown Center roof EXlstmg concrete columns were located and sign for the second level," Jacobson
SQuared to steel columns with 20·m. anchor bollS (lower fight corner of photO) Giant crane commented .
With 400-(, boOm (boflom) hoisted steel columns up and across roof of center Very little construction Is without
surprises. The first one at Sharpstown
was a long underground river bed. It
was discovered when the structure's
foundation and steel support columns
were tested for their strength to carry
a second level. As a result, the founda-
tions needed to be fortified In 44
places. The contractor had to go Into
shops and take 200ft borings for soil
samples. Then he went back and
poured new footings seven feet down
in weak soil areas. The lighter weight
of steel framing became a key reason
to use structural steel on the second-
level addition.

Sleel Up-with World's Largest Crane

Now that the new structure had a solid
foundation, next step was to add
structural steel on top of existing con- ,
crete columns. The new steel columns
had 10 be squared to the old columns
and attached with 2O-ln. anchor bolts.
For each steel column, two holes had
to be drilled in the roof to lodge Ihe
anchor bolts-a process which took a
whole day for each column.
After the anchor bolts were in place,
there was a two-month waiting period
before the 1,000 tons of steel could be
erected. During that time, Jacobson's
team scoured the country for a crane
with a 400-ft boom needed to hoist the
steel up to the new roof level. Iron-
ically, they found the world's largest
rubber-ti red crane, a 2oo-ton monster
manufactured by Clark, right in their
backyard.
In just three months, Sharpstown
Center had a new, waterproof roof - a
four-ply builtup rOOf, 2-in. of Perlite
over an insulated metal deck. Second
floor walls were enclosed with marble-
crete. Now the old roof could come
down.

Night Crew Is Back

Interior work brought the night crew
back. After store hours, demolition of •
the roof over the main central area
moved fast. The rOOf, sculptured in
precast concrete folded plates, had to
 be cut into five sections to be removed. Architect Ganeral Contractor
Each weighed 88,000 pounds. Special Nlkita ZukoY, AlA H .A. LoU Constructio n Co.
steel beam jigs were set up to ease the New York , New York Houston, Texas
• sections down to a forklift to be carted Structural Engineer Owner/De •• loper
away to the rubbish heap. T.Y. Lin & Associates Arthur M . Fischer, Inc.
Removing the old builtup roof was Houston, Texas Houston, Texas
next. This arduous, tlme-consuming
task took three months because the
work had to be done by hand. The Roof goes on over new addition before Old one was removed Alfcondmomng and skyllgnt
older structure could not support the Units also remained In place until bUlldmg was enclosed
weight of heavy demolition equipment.
Two complete asphalt - and - gravel

-
roofs had to be removed, and three
inches of lightweight concrete taken
off of the 1,500 original double tees.

More Surprises
The double·tees presented another
surprise. They were supposed to be
arched to a positive camber-but 18
years had flattened them out. Before a
-
new floor could be poured, every one
of the 1,500 tees had to be surveyed at
each end and In the middle, to check
the proper arch. Where they had nega-
tive arches, workmen had to go into
stores, remove the ceiling and jack up
the tees with shores.

•
With the old roof gone, a delight-
fully spacious 5O-ft atrium was created
for Sharpstown 's center court. The
final stages of the extensive remod-
eling Included a pre-finished metal
ceiling, new storefronts, three esca·
lators, glass elevators and decorative
stairways.

Old It Pay Off?

The Sharpstown expansion has provo
en to be a very successful venture.
Over 85 new tenants moved into the
center, some making their Initial entry
into the booming Houston market·
place.
"The continued growth of South-
west Houston, plus tt]e tremendous
customer acceptance of products and
services offered by Sharpstown retail·
ers, dictated this expansion. Though
we took a risk of sorts In this prec-
edent·setting expansion, we couldn't
be more pleased with the outcome.
Dollar for dollar, Sharpstown's expan·
sion proves that, for the shopping cen -
ter industry of the future, the only way
to go Is up." 0

•
Q1e shortcut to save lime was to remove old
precast folded plates before structure was
enclosed along SIdeS MaSSIVB BB,()()().pound
pteC8S were gingerly lowered by special steel
beam J'9S shown
 AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION

~
The Wrigley Building, 400 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
ULK RATE~
US POSTAGE
PAID
WHEATON, ILL
Address Correction Requested Permit No. 1786

Bridge to Renewal-Color it Red!

A pedestrian bridge in Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania was suggested as a
first step to the city's downtown re-
newal plan. The new Walnut Street
Bridge crosses a major street to con·

•
nect the hillside Capitol Park to a new
mixed·use complex named Strawberry
Square.
The park·level bridge permits those
who work In the capital buildings, sit·
uated In the park, to have easy access
to other state buildings, offices, res·
taurants, entertainment and retail
shops in the Square. Future phases of
the renewal plan Include extensions of
this pedestrian walkway.
The structure, which spans 130 It
from the park sidewalk to the second
floor of the Dept. of Revenue Building,
consists of two unusual steel girders,
connected by wide-flange beams and
topped with a concrete slab.
In plan, elevation and cross'sectlon,
the bridge Is shaped to sallsfy the dlf·
ferent needs of park and building. The equipped with down lights that be- General Contractor
vertical curve of the lower girder come a nlghllme marker for the street· Mellon·Stuart Company
flanges suggests the support and level entrance. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
spring of traditional bridge construc· The bright red paint shouts this is Steel Fabricator
lion. The bridge deck widens as It ap- no railroad bridge-but rather new life Will iamsport Fabricators, Inc.
proaches the building to provide a for downtown Harrisburg. 0 Williamsport , Pennsylvania
gracious entryway-a width not re-
quired for the street crossing. The top Steel Erector
Architects C & S Engineers
flanges of the girders slope downward
lawrie & Green·Mitchell/Glurgola New Cumberland, Pennsylvania
toward the deck at a 45-degree angle

to discourage pedestrians sitting and
climbing.
The windscreen Is glazed with tem·
peredllamlnated glass. The soffit, en·
closed with an aluminum ceiling, Is
•
ijolnt arch itectural venture) Owner
Philadelphia, Pennsylvan ia Harristown Development Corporation
Structural Engineer Harrisburg , Pennsylvania
Skilling, Helle, Christiansen, Robertson
New York , New York